Warm & soft Angora fibre
Warm & soft Angora fibre
ANGORA is the warmest of natural fibres and the luxury of its extreme softness makes it a joy to wear, claims the British Angora Producers Marketing Association which has launched its first collection of clothes made by members and available by mail order.
Most of the nine rabbit farmers-cum-manufacturers featured in the BAPMA brochure include a hat in their range. Rosalind Easter of Easter Bunnies (01248-750297) favours Celtic designs for hers (she also makes a striking Celtic tabard). Sarah Paul of Big Wigs Wardrobe (01756-770282), produces beany hats for babies, pull on ones with rolled brims in two styles, matching bootees and a "pot pourri" ladies jumper. This is a drop-shoulder design with a small Fair Isle and lace repeat pattern (from £60).
Luxury and elegance sum up the scarves and shawls from Alvah Handweavers (01466-78053), which are available in natural white or grey (plain or pin stripe), or in multi-colour blends.
Orkney Angora (phone or fax 01857-600421) offers just two items, gloves and a polo neck insert, both in a choice of colours. The latter is suitable for both men and women and has extra long tuck-in flaps front and back.
Clothes from Heather Calo include hug-me-softly, long-line cardigans, while Woodland Angoras offer a knitting kit for a lacy, cardigan in an easy stitch.
Producers fibre is spun and blended with an equal quantity of lambswool to double knitting weight and available in four natural colours and 19 hand dyed ones.
For brochure send A5 size SAE to BAPMA, 4 The Dingle, Barnton, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 4SS.
Sarah Paul in the pot pourri jumper from Big Wigs Wardrobe and her daughter Elinor in the baby beany hat and matching bootees.